Japan has issued a formal complaint after South Korea invited a group of foreign journalists to a disputed island group, in the latest sign of deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two neighbours. Reporters from six US and European media groups, including the Financial Times, travelled to the Dokdo islands – known as Takeshima in Japan – on Thursday on a visit organised by the government.

I am optimistic about Australia’s campaign for a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). To be clear, I am optimistic about the campaign, rather than the contest. It is almost impossible to predict the outcome of the three-way competition between Australia, Finland and Luxembourg for the two available seats; a contest that will be determined by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 18 October.

Morocco and Indonesia have enjoyed cordial relations for more than five decades. There is no need for a visa if an Indonesian citizen wants to visit the North African nation. Yet a lack of awareness about the economic potential of both countries remained a hurdle in boosting bilateral ties, Morocco’s man in Jakarta has said.

On Sept. 28, the university hosted a group of diplomats from the Republic of Liberia, including Foreign Affairs Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngfuan, Rural Communications Director Patrick Honnah and Assistant Minister of Public Affairs Horatio Bobby Willie.

If you bring in the best chefs of your area, your country, to bring people around the table so you can get to know them better in a way that doesn’t so much involve words as it does flavor, and the history of flavor, and the experience of flavors and textures.

Amsterdam, a co-founder of his law firm Amsterdam & Partners LLP, explores connections between public international law and political advocacy. “We need to stop assuming that governments outside of the West behave like ours do,” Amsterdam said. “We are focusing on public diplomacy in Thailand to change the dynamics and change the very thinking of the people. We are using law as a revolutionary instrument.”

Syria has told Russia that a mortar attack that killed five civilians across the border in Turkey was a "tragic accident" that will not be repeated, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Thursday. RIA Novosti news agency said Lavrov had also told reporters during a visit to Islamabad that Russia had urged Syria to acknowledge this in public.

Armenian students, post-graduate students and researchers may apply for German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship program. The number of Armenians to have been granted DAAD scholarships in 2012 exceeded 80.